Chapter 3: Imperial Affairs

Hua Yuliu’s perception had always been sharp.

She turned back for a glance.

There was already no figure at the window.

Bai Jingxian helplessly leaned against the headboard.

He let out a light sigh.

“Senior Sister’s perception is so keen.”

“Troublesome.”

“Truly too troublesome.”

She rubbed the space between her brows.

As if feeling a bit bored.

She softly called out.

“Xiao Cang.”

Xiao Cang was his system.

As a transmigrator, having a system was the most normal thing.

But his system seemed not quite complete.

His system’s full name was [Canglan Goddess Record].

Abbreviated as Xiao Cang.

He really hoped it wasn’t his eyes playing tricks.

That Canglan was actually two other characters.

The system would trigger tasks based on contacted characters.

Tasks could not be refused.

Refusing would result in severe punishment.

Completing tasks would grant generous voucher rewards and items.

Vouchers could be used for draws or to exchange for many items in the mall.

Aside from system issuance, vouchers could also be exchanged with corresponding amounts of spirit stones.

Shattered spirit stones for half a voucher.

Low-grade spirit stones for one voucher.

Mid-grade for five vouchers.

High-grade for ten vouchers.

A single draw in the lottery required one hundred vouchers.

Ten consecutive draws needed one thousand vouchers.

Converted, it was quite expensive.

Though Bai Jingxian had the status of a direct disciple, the high-grade spirit stones he received each month were only enough for a few draws.

Thus, he shifted his focus to tasks.

But the tasks issued by the system were never proper.

For example, the foot bath matter Hua Yuliu had mentioned earlier was a system task.

[Falling Petals Gracefully]

[Falling Petals Gracefully Part 101]

[Key Character: Hua Yuliu]

[Senior Sister Hua Yuliu has been with you for many years; she is like family to you. Giving her a foot bath to relieve the fatigue from cultivation can better promote the relationship between senior sister and junior brother.]

[Reward: 500 vouchers, Ice Silk Long Stockings 10]

A single foot bath could yield such generous rewards.

How could he endure not doing it?

Though he was looked at with utter disdain by Hua Yuliu for several days straight.

At least it wasn’t a loss.

In the past, acting shamelessly was something he had to do to complete system tasks.

Beneath Bai Jingxian’s bright and glorious image lay countless acts of shamelessness.

It was truly lamentable.

Bai Jingxian checked his system inventory.

His face immediately darkened.

He had not a single voucher left.

The experience scrolls he had saved before were all used up.

He felt a bit depressed.

That day, destroying the Blood Demon Sect and saving people was a system task.

Relying on his cultivation plus massive experience scrolls, cultivators below Sixth Realm fifth step were no match for him.

Who would have thought the Blood Demon Sect Master, who had been in closed death seclusion, would suddenly break through.

Against a Seventh Realm opponent, he truly couldn’t resist.

He could only give his all to stall for time, waiting for Yan Zhuyue to come save him.

Fortunately, Yan Zhuyue arrived in time.

Otherwise, he had planned to burn all his cultivation to exchange with the system for a sure-kill strike against a Seventh Realm expert.

Bai Jingxian let out a faint sigh.

Now he had to start from scratch again.

But he wasn’t anxious.

After all, in the past, his pride made task progress extremely slow.

But now it was different.

He looked at the top entry on the task panel.

Besides the task related to Hua Yuliu, [Falling Petals Gracefully].

There was another task.

[Sword Immortal’s Admiration]

[Key Character: Pei Siyun]

Pei Siyun was precisely the former saintess of Sword Inquiry Gate that Hua Yuliu had just mentioned.

His gaze slowly moved downward.

His expression gradually became worried.

[Sword Immortal’s Admiration Part One]

[The former model of the righteous path murdering fellow disciples is indeed suspicious; there may be hidden circumstances. Please find Pei Siyun of Sword Inquiry Gate and befriend her.]

[Reward: 50 vouchers]

Though the task description was very proper.

Based on Bai Jingxian’s years of experience, what lay behind it was definitely not proper.

50 vouchers seemed few.

But if there was part one, there would surely be part two.

Subsequent task rewards would grow richer.

But Hua Yuliu had said Pei Siyun’s whereabouts were currently unknown.

Where was he supposed to find her?

Though there was an Earth-tier technique in the mall called Tracing Origins.

It could trace the target through an item belonging to them.

This Earth-tier technique was priced at a high 2000 vouchers in the mall.

He could afford to buy it.

But it wasn’t worth it.

He knew a good place to buy information.

But that would have to wait until he recuperated a bit longer.

Evening.

The evening glow sprinkled across the courtyard.

Bai Jingxian yawned as he walked out of the room.

Hua Yuliu was still there.

Hua Yuliu set down the book in her hand.

She raised her eyes to look at Bai Jingxian.

Her gaze was still as clear and cold as ever.

Bai Jingxian smiled at her.

“Senior Sister, stay a bit longer.”

“Dinner will be ready soon.”

Hua Yuliu lightly hummed in acknowledgment.

Hua Yuliu had gone to see Yan Zhuyue once.

Seeing Bai Jingxian’s insistence on going, Yan Zhuyue could only nod in agreement.

But after giving her instructions, his master fell asleep again.

Hua Yuliu had wanted to seek guidance on the seventh form of the Moonlit Sword Art.

But could only let it go.

Cooking smoke curled faintly.

The courtyard was filled with the fragrance of food.

Tonight, he used long-cured bacon and sausage to make two pots of claypot rice.

Added some freshly harvested cabbage from the courtyard.

The claypot rice was a bit dry.

Bai Jingxian poured a spoonful of secret sauce over each.

It was complete.

“A bit dry.”

“Then… should I pour a bit more for Senior Sister?”

“No need.”

Hua Yuliu shook her head.

She silently scooped rice.

Bai Jingxian scooped rice while secretly watching her.

A pain shot through Bai Jingxian’s foot.

He looked up.

Hua Yuliu’s face remained expressionless.

He could only give her a faint glance.

Thinking to himself that a woman’s temper was indeed unpredictable.

One moment amiable, the next exploding.

Fortunately, Hua Yuliu only lightly stepped once before releasing.

Bai Jingxian pretended to relax with a sigh of relief.

Hua Yuliu glanced at him indifferently.

“You’ve cultivated body forging techniques.”

“This level still hurts you?”

“I’m a whole major realm below Senior Sister, eh.”

Hua Yuliu did not respond.

She simply picked up a piece of sausage and put it in her mouth.

“Your swords are all destroyed?”

“Except for Tracing Light, all destroyed.”

“Should I ask Master to apply for a batch of spirit swords?”

“No, no.”

“After all, Senior Sister knows.”

“The number of spirit swords I need is enormous.”

“The sect elders probably won’t agree.”

Hua Yuliu said indifferently.

“You are the one the sect places high hopes on.”

“With your status and position, even if you apply, the elders would at most grumble but not dare speak out.”

“Though my status is extraordinary, I must also consider the sect.”

“If not for Master, how could Moonlit Grace Sect still exist in this world?”

Bai Jingxian was momentarily speechless.

Feeling it made some sense.

If Yan Zhuyue hadn’t broken through to the Eighth Realm and slain all external enemies of Moonlit Grace Sect.

How could Moonlit Grace Sect still exist?

She could have roamed freely alone and founded her own sect.

In the end, she stayed to become the sect master of Moonlit Grace Sect.

One could say, without Yan Zhuyue, there would be no Moonlit Grace Sect.

“You need not worry about this matter.”

“I will speak to Master.”

“Oh.”

Bai Jingxian forcibly swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue.

*

After Hua Yuliu left.

It took a full cup of tea’s time before Bai Jingxian came back to his senses.

Hua Yuliu’s words still lingered in his ears.

Senior Sister cares about me.

She has me in her heart…

Bai Jingxian smiled foolishly.

Clearly, on ordinary days, he despised such behavior the most.

If he saw it, he would curse it.

But very obviously.

His bottom line was flexible.

I can.

But you lot, cannot.